Second Wednesday of Advent

The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

God doesn’t get tired of us. He loves us just as much when we are saintly and when we are sinful. He does not force us to do anything, but rather lets us choose. He wants us to be good and faithful servants because we love Him and He is willing to wait patiently for us to come to Him. His unwavering love does not grow faint or weary, but that doesn’t mean His Love and Mercy for us will trump His Justice. If we fall into sin, He is more than willing to forgive us. However, we need to be contrite for our sins and honestly desire to amend our lives. We might not always succeed, but we should not grow weary of trying to be holy. God gives us every strength and grace we need to overcome the temptations we face. He gives us spiritual vigor during our times of trial and will renew us after every battle with our sinful selves. If we let Him, He will grant us wings which will bear us to heaven and eternal life.

Do we give thanks to God for being so patient with us? Are we truly grateful for the love, mercy, and support He has given us throughout our lives? How can we express our thanks for all God has done for us?

O Lord, give us your strength and vigor.

Amen.

Solemnity of All Saints

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

We are all called to be saints. We are all made in the image of God and He loves us as Himself. He calls us His children and like any Father, He wants what is best for us. He wants to protect us from harm, show us the way to live holy and good lives, and offer us a seat at His Heavenly banquet table. No wonder the world does not know us! No wonder the world mocks and persecutes us! We are beloved by God and that love shines through us and stands in stark contrast to the dark places the world’s adherents cling to. We are made for loftier things than fame or fortune or pleasures or selfishness. We are made to go out from ourselves, to share our faith, hope, and love with all whom we meet so we will be revealed to be like our God. Caring compassionate, and welcoming of all who wish to be united with Christ and see the face of God as saints.

Do we accept our place as children of God and all the responsibilities that entails? Are we willing to be mocked and persecuted in order to spread the Good News that our heavenly Father has given us? How can we become more like Him in all we think, say, and do?

O Lord, we are your children now and forever.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Thursday in Ordinary Time

The Lord has made known his salvation. Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

God makes known His salvation in various ways. Sometimes He does so through great signs. Other times He does so in a whisper. He brings salvation to us through people, places, and things. He leads us to holiness through the guidance and inspirations of the Holy Spirit. He gives us perfect examples to base our lives on in Jesus and His Mother, Mary. He protects us from evil and calls us to good in numerous ways that we are free to accept or ignore. However, one thing cannot be ignored, His Love for us, because it is clear, constant, and never waivers, even when we take it for granted or deny it. So, let us be thankful for the Lord, for He is merciful, kind, and always offering to save us.

In what ways do we sing the praise of the Lord? How often do we raise our hearts up to Him in joy? How can we make our lives into a living song of glory and praise?

O Lord, we praise you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Sixteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. At the breath of your anger the waters piled up, the flowing waters stood like a mound, the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea. The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them; I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them; I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!” 

God does not do what He does just to cover Himself in glory. He performs miracles like the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery and the parting of the Red Sea because He is compassionate. He doesn’t strike down His enemies out of malice, but because they leave Him no choice. He does what is best for us as individuals and as His Chosen People. He shows us His power and might, not to impress us, but to impress upon us His Love and Mercy. Everything He does is to give us a model of thinking, speaking, and acting that will allow us to be the best reflections of His Divine Image that we can be. And if we trust in His Plan, then our enemies will never overtake us. Instead, they will be divided from us by a great chasm that cannot be crossed and despoiled in the abyss of Hell. So, let us have faith in God no matter what trials face us and allow Him to lead us to the Promised Land.

Do we recognize how compassionate God is toward us? Are we as compassionate with others? How can we model our lives on the example of our Heavenly Father, His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, your compassion for us shall never be forgotten.

Amen.

Seventh Tuesday of Easter

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; Your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.

We are all needy in some way. We are imperfect and lacking. We are sinners, who are struggling to do right and avoid evil. We think wrongly. We say things that are hurtful. We don’t succeed at everything we do. We are failures in so many ways. But God loves us and because of His Love, we are given opportunities to fill our needs, be restored from our brokenness, fix our imperfections, and succeed in the most important things in life, namely knowing, loving, and serving God and His children.

What are our areas of need in mind, body, and spirit? How can we allow God into these places so He can amend our lives to be more perfectly aligned with His Will? What can we do to be better receptors of God’s Love and Saving Grace?

O Lord, provide for our neediness.

Amen.

Sixth Wednesday of Easter

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all you his hosts.

Praise is an important part of our faith. How could we not praise God for all He has done for us? We should praise Him for all of creation. We should praise Him for making us in His Divine Image. We should praise Him for the Old Covenant. We should praise Him for the New Covenant. We should praise Him for giving us a Blessed Virgin Mother. We should praise Him for His Beloved Son. We should praise Him for Jesus’ life, passion, death, and resurrection. We should praise Him for the resurrection of the dead and for the sending of the Holy Spirit. We should praise Him for enkindling goodness, mercy, and love within our hearts. And this is only a drop of what God has done for us... how greatly loved we are!

Do we praise God as often as we should? How can we praise Him more perfectly? What can we do to lead others to praise Him?

O Lord, help us to praise you now and forever.

Amen.

Sixth Monday of Easter

The Lord takes delight in his people. Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory.

We are imperfect, but God loves us perfectly. We sometimes disappoint God and others in our lives, but God still delights in us. We are sinners, but God sees the potential for saints. We aren’t always good or faithful, but God believes we can be good and faithful servants. We worry, but God believes our hope in Him is stronger than our doubts. We fail to love as we should, but God loves us anyway. We are weak, but God trusts the graces He gives us will make us strong. Our Lord adorns us with every blessing so we might overcome our failings and become victorious and holy.

Are we willing to let God heal us of our sins and weaknesses? What can we do to prepare ourselves so we are open to God’s blessings and graces? How do we show our delight in God, who is so good to us?

O Lord, adorn us with victory over all our imperfections.

Amen.

Third Friday of Lent

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice. An unfamiliar speech I hear: “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I rescued you.”

When we are in distress, God will rescue us. He will listen to our cries and come to our aid. He might not answer our petitions in the time and manner that we want, but He will give us the grace to overcome all our fears, doubts, pains, and obstacles. He will lead us to a better place, if not physically, at least spiritually. He will relieve us of our burdens and free us from our slavery to sin and worldly things. And ultimately, He will bring us out of bondage to a land flowing with the milk of His Divine Mercy and the honey of His Love.

What burdens are weighing us down? How can we free ourselves of all that is enslaving us to sin and the world? How can we help God rescue others from their difficulties?

O Lord, relieve us of our burdens and free us from our sins.

Amen.

First Thursday of Lent

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name.

The Lord our God is listening. He is watching. He is with us now and if we are holy, He will be with us forever. There is no prayer that goes unheard or unanswered. There is no word that passes our lips that He does not hear. There is no work we do that He does not witness. He knows our good deeds. He knows our sins. He knows all. And yet, He loves us in spite of our flaws and our sins and chooses to come to our help whenever we call upon Him. This is why we ought to sing His praises and give thanks to Him.

What do we need help with? How can we make God more of a part of that area of our lives? How can we love God and His children as He loves us?

O Lord, we give thanks to you for you have heard us.

Amen.

First Tuesday in Ordinary Time

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands. O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?

It is hard to imagine why God loves us so much. We have so little to offer Him other than our good works, sacrifices, and love. Compare these to the wondrous works, the ultimate sacrifice, and the unending love He has give us. And yet, God is mindful of us. He cares for us. He loves us. In fact, He is so in love with us that He made us in His Image. He has sacrificed His Beloved Son for us. He has given us His Spirit. Everything He is, He has given us even though we can never truly repay Him. He has given everything to us as a gift because He wants us to succeed in becoming holy people, who love Him and reflect His Image to all the world.

Do we appreciate all that God has done, is doing, and will do for us? What are we being called to do in response to God’s gracious gifts? How can we become more faithful, hopeful, and loving children to our caring Lord?

O Lord, we glorify your name over all the earth.

Amen.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

Rejoice in the Lord, you just! The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. Clouds and darkness are around him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

Sometimes God comes into our lives like a storm. He thunders and lightnings. and lets us know He is powerful, but He can also come in gentle and unseen ways. In whatever form He comes, He arrives to do one thing... to love us. He is just and good and wants what is best for us, even if we don't know what that is. Sometimes he comes as a storm to shake us and rouse us from a spiritual sleep. Other times He comes as a whisper of inspiration that guides us to a better life. No matter what, we should rejoice in His coming and in His staying with us always and everywhere we go.

Do our lives seem to be stormy lately? If so, then what might God be trying to show us through the lightning? Are we as equally open to the gentle whispers He sends us through the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we are glad and rejoice at your coming into our lives.

Amen.

Third Friday of Advent

Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song. Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. Sing to him a new song; pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.

We have much to be thankful for as the children of God. We could ask for no better Father than our God. He gave us our lives. He gives us His constant love. He will give us salvation and eternal life, if we accept His guidance and graces. This is why we should exult in God and sing to Him a new song. We should praise Him for everything He has done for us and shout for gladness for all His kindnesses. Our hearts should have but one response to God for all He has done for us... to glorify and love Him.

What are the things in our lives we should be grateful for? What can we do to give thanks to God for what He has given us? How can we nurture glad and thankful hearts in ourselves and others?

O Lord, we shout for gladness for all that you’ve done for us.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Lent

"Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him." But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD, For he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!

God is our mighty champion. He wants to defend us from evil and protect us from sin. He wants to lift us up when we fall, to lend His strength to us when we need it, and lead us to victory over the wickedness of the world. He wants to grant us His grace and forgiveness. He loves us all and He will not let our enemies overpower us if we trust and depend upon Him. However, He will not force His aid and protection upon us. He wants us to choose it freely and willingly by testing us and probing our minds and hearts. If we choose Him as the center of our lives, then He will rescue us from the power of the wicked and champion us through the valley of darkness to the light of paradise.

Do we seek out God’s help in our lives? Do we depend upon Him and trust He will see us through all our difficulties? How can we make Him the center of our lives in thought, word, and work?

O Lord, rescue us from the power of the wicked.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

We are the adopted sons and daughters of God and we would do well to remember that. God so loved us He sent His Beloved Son to die for us all so we might be united to our Heavenly Father through the Body and Blood of Christ. He also sent the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate and Guide so we would know He loves us as His children. God does so many things for us. He gives us His Love, Mercy, and Grace to fill us with charity, to wash us of our sins, and to strengthen us for the way ahead. We should take comfort in the knowledge that we are so loved by God that He wants us to call Him, Abba, Father. Not only that, but He has also prepared a place for us in His Heavenly Kingdom and as long as we are willing to cast off the shackles of sins, we shall be given the grace to be co-heirs with Christ.

Do we act like the sons and daughters of God? How can we become more saintly people so we make our Heavenly Father proud of us? Do we call upon God as our Father when we are in need?

O Lord, Abba, Father, thank you for all you have given us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

God doesn’t get tired of us. He loves us just as much when we are saintly and when we are sinful. He does not force us to do anything, but rather lets us choose. He wants us to be good and faithful servants because we love Him and He is willing to wait patiently for us to come to Him. His unwavering love does not grow faint or weary, but that doesn’t mean His Love and Mercy for us will trump His Justice. If we fall into sin, He is more than willing to forgive us. However, we need to be contrite for our sins and honestly desire to amend our lives. We might not always succeed, but we should not grow weary of trying to be holy. God gives us every strength and grace we need to overcome the temptations we face. He gives us spiritual vigor during our times of trial and will renew us after every battle with our sinful selves. If we let Him, He will grant us wings which will bear us to heaven and eternal life.

Do we give thanks to God for being so patient with us? Are we truly grateful for the love, mercy, and support He has given us throughout our lives? How can we express our thanks for all God has done for us?

O Lord, give us your strength and vigor.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Lent

Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.

The river in this passage signifies God’s blessing upon His followers. He wants us to live abundantly, to be refreshed in faith, and to grow in love. He wants us to bear good fruits in thought, word, and work. He wants our hearts to remain ever green with life-giving grace. He wants to wash us with the waters of His Love and Mercy. He gives all these things to us because He wants us to be fruit for the world, sustaining those in physically, emotional, and spiritual need. He wants us to be medicine for the sick in mind, body, and spirit. He pours Himself out to us not to grow in isolation from each other, but to imitate Him and pour ourselves out for Him and His children. He is our sanctuary because He wants to show us how to be shelters for others.

Are our lives planted near the living water that flows from the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit? Are we drawing our sustenance from the eternal spring of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace? How can we become fonts of goodness in the midst of the deserts of the world?

O Lord, water us with your love so that we might bear good fruits.

Amen.

Fourth Friday of Advent

The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.

By becoming flesh, Jesus consecrated all of mankind to His Father and made us the adopted children of God and heirs to His kingdom. Nothing can take this away from us. God loves us as Himself, He loves us in a way that completes us. We cannot find a greater love than this. We can try to substitute people and things, but no matter how much we love someone or something it is a mere atom compared to the universal love God has for us. The Incarnation is just one of the ways God expressed His boundless love for us and as we celebrate this Christmas Eve, anticipating the Birth of Christ, we should also keep in mind what that birth means: God is with us because He loves us as Himself.

How do we give thanks to our Heavenly Father? How do we make Jesus a central part of not only Christmas, but every day of the year? What does the gift of the Incarnation mean for us?

O Lord, we give our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths to you in praise of the gift of your beloved Son.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Advent

My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!”

God is our lover. The Bible is the greatest love story ever told. Our lives are chapters in the never-ending story. Each one is different, but God wants the same ending for us all. He wants us to be with Him forever in paradise. He sees the beauty in all people and gives them every chance to grow in faith, hope, and love. He treats each of us as His beloved. He calls to us to come with Him, prune away our sins, to celebrate life, and bear good fruits.

Do we appreciate how much God loves us? What can we do to prune away our sins and imperfections? How are our lives an expression of God’s Love to others?

O Lord, you are our beloved, our beautiful one.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Friday of Ordinary Time

"No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins."

If we truly want to be Disciples of Christ, then we can't hold onto our old sinful selves. Sin leaves us weak and unable to hold the love and mercy we are all called to be filled with. God may try to pour Himself into us, but if our hearts aren't contrite, then they burst, God's graces spill out of us ineffectually, and our opportunities to do good are ruined. In order to hold God's graces properly, we need to have a conversion of our hearts. He need to line them with contrition and acceptance of the sacrifices God is asking of us. If we do that, then our hearts will be made anew and whole and able to be filled with God's Love and Mercy. Then, when God pours us out in thought, word, and work, our lives will refresh the spirits of others and give glory to Him.

What sins must we overcome in order to renew our hearts? What can we do to prepare ourselves to be filled with the heavenly wine of God's Love and Mercy? How can we become better vessels of God's Will?

O Lord, make us fresh wineskins, continually pouring out your graces.

Amen.

The Seventh Thursday of Easter

Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.

According to Jesus, we are a gift to him from his Righteous Father. Sometimes we can forget this, but it is good to remind ourselves that Jesus treasures us as much as any gift given to a child from a parent. We may be tarnished by imperfections, damaged by sins, or even broken in some way, but the love with which we were given to the Son makes up for all of that and more. This is why Christ wants us to be with him and to share in the glory the Father has given him. Just like a favorite gift, we are clutched close to Jesus’ heart. It is this love that gives us our worth and we magnify it best when we choose to live a Christ-like life and manifest God’s Love for others.

Do we consider ourselves gifts to Jesus? How does this belief shape our thoughts, words, and works? How do we manifest God’s Love for our family, friends, and neighbors?

O Lord, we are gifts to you. Do with us what you will.

Amen.